Target Earth (1998) (TV)

User Rating:

4.6/10   

Director:

Peter Markle

Writer (WGA):

Michael Vickerman (written by)

Release Date:

5 February 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Plot:

A young girl returns home after being abducted - and that's only the beginning of the story! This flick is filled with all sorts of sci-fi surprises...

Cast

Christopher Meloni	...	Det. Samuel 'Sam' Adams
Marcia Cross	...	Karen Mackaphe
John C. McGinley	...	Agent Vincent Naples, FBI
Chad Lowe	...	Commander Fauk, Alien Chief
Dabney Coleman	...	Senator Ben Arnold, Sam's Uncle
Melinda Culea	...	Allison, Emmett's Gang
Traci Dinwiddie	...	Dep. Madeline Chandler
Jeff Monahan	...	Emmett, Patroit Leader
Stephani Victor	...	Carrie
Courtney Allen Crumpler	...	Tammy Mackaphe, Karen's Daughter
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Barry Bell	...	Mason, CIA
Dilsey Davis	...	Nate, Emmett's Gang
Jerry Hatmaker	...	Paul Henke
Jack Moore	...	Remo, Emmett's Gang
Tina Murphy	...	Self-Defense Student
Tim Parati	...	Raymond
Lizbeth Smith-Cuellar	...	Police agent
Al Wiggins	...	Gus Ramus (as Alfred Wiggins)
Jenna Young	...	Beautician

Also Known As:

Taken Away (USA)

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:12

Filming Locations:

High Point, North Carolina, USA

Company:

Symphony Pictures

Bad guy much more fun than our 'hero'

Aliens plan to take over the world, by gradually activating implants in people at various levels of society (inserted, as we all know, during the multitude of 3-day abductions that have been visited on America's Mid-West since the 1950's science fiction boom). One man, a police detective, can save the world, but is so dull that the alien invasion becomes a more and more attractive prospect as the film goes on.

The opening scene has the location typed out at the bottom-left of the screen, showing clearly its lineage from "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" via the X-Files. Don't expect a moment of tension, except perhaps the decision on when to have your next cup of tea, but worth a watch if the alternative is ironing a shirt for the next morning. It is, however, slightly redeemed by the bald, stary-eyed, Hank Williams-loving baddie, who has the few lines in the film worth putting in something better.